Learning and connecting at the Women's Leadership Symposium

When the invitation for Fisher’s fourth annual Women’s Leadership Symposium landed in Shannon Mathie’s inbox, she sent a screenshot to her 17-year-old daughter Sophia and told her to save the date.

Sophia, a junior at GlenOak High School in Canton, celebrated her 16^th birthday with her mom at last year’s symposium. She savors the exposure to new ideas and different careers she sees at the event. 

“I love hearing the speakers and seeing what is available,” said the teen, who frequently takes on leadership roles at her school.

“It is good for her to see other women in leadership and to know you can stand strong in your convictions,” said Shannon (MBA ’24), the head of school for New Story Schools in Columbus.

Mother and daughter were among nearly 400 business leaders, medical professionals, alumni, students and faculty who gathered for the March symposium at the Fawcett Event Center. From navigating Generative AI to navigating difficult conversations and a work-life balance, the annual event provided an opportunity for networking, career exploration and continuing education.

Nate Rogers (MBA ’06) came to hear and learn from different voices. He is the founder of Four Eyes Facilitation, a consulting firm that helps organizations align their leadership teams to become more collaborative, creative and strategic. 

“I have made it my job to understand all the voices in the room, so to take a day to understand a voice different from mine is really cool,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to give support, learn and make sure I empathize with the challenges women face.”

Many saw the symposium as an opportunity to learn about personal and professional wellness. Licensed psychologist and media personality Robin Smith talked about developing a skill set for self-care in her keynote address, Self-Care as a Leadership Strategy. 

Smith is a New York Times bestselling author, ordained minister and radio host on Sirius XM’s Urban View. She first gained popularity as the on-air therapist for the Oprah Winfrey Show. A highly sought-after speaker, she also leads programs for Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

Known as “Dr. Robin,” she called self-care one of the most important tools of leadership. She encouraged attendees to own their joy, become mindful of their inner critic and practice self-compassion.

Her audience included CEOs, managers, consultants and storytellers from industries such as human resources, education, retail and health care. Twenty-five members of the Wexner Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Services attended the symposium together at the invitation of a coworker.

“You leave feeling empowered and inspired,” said Alli Wojtach, rehabilitation manager at Ohio State Outpatient Care in New Albany, who encouraged her colleagues to register.

James McKee, a senior marketing specialist with Cardinal Health, attended with his manager, Kim Young Kittle (MBA ’19). She looked forward to sharing the day-long event with McKee and other members of her team after experiencing last year’s symposium.

“We have a lot of learners on our team, and we always want to tap into opportunities for continued growth and development. This is a chance to step outside the everyday and continue to think differently,” she said. 

While McKee was familiar with artificial intelligence, he said the opening session offered him intriguing new insight about AI’s use in marketing and business. 

The session, Leveraging AI for Professional and Personal Success kicked off the day’s presentations. Sandy DeFelice, a senior vice president at Digital Wave Technology, discussed the efficiency and impact of Generative AI in areas such as marketing and research with session facilitator Nate Craig, associate professor of operations and business analytics at Fisher. They encouraged their audience to experiment and become more familiar with AI at work and in their personal lives.

As director of nursing at the James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute, Julie Kadiri was particularly interested in this session. She had led a program that used AI to predict fall risks among patients.

Researchers and those who want to remain competitive in their fields need to understand the uses and benefits of this technology, said Kadiri, who also appreciates the symposium’s focus on women.

“Women don’t always believe in their own confidence to do big things,” she said.

The day's events concluded with a book signing with Dr. Robin and a vendor market highlighting an array of health and wellness products. Local vendors featured essential oils, lotions, candles, vitamin supplements and more. 

The Women’s Leadership Symposium was made possible through the support of Fisher alumni, including Paula Bennett (BSBA ’71), retired president and CEO of J.Jill; Camille Gibson (BA ’78, MBA ’83), retired CEO of Sana Foods; Donna James (Hon ’23), managing director of Lardon & Associates LLC; and Joyce Mace (BSBA ’84), retired partner at PwC.

Cynthia Turner, associate dean for access, engagement and outreach at Fisher and the symposium’s coordinator, called the event a chance to “reboot and refresh.”

She invited attendees to reflect on what they learned throughout the day and to sum up their experiences in 10 words. Some posted their reflections on an easel in the center’s reception area.

Kyra Righter jotted down the words “strength strategic optimistic diversity but most of all unity.”

A contact lens coordinator for Ohio State’s Eye and Ear Institute, Righter said the chance to be in community with women in a positive way helps counter the negatives seen and heard on social media.

“When you have the opportunity to embrace women as a whole, you should take full advantage of it,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to gain new perspectives and find purpose,” said Ashley Simon (BSBA ’07), who is between careers and working on a master’s degree in consumer science through Ohio State’s Fashion and Retail Studies program.

In the Navigating Difficult Conversations with Confidence session, Simon found herself taking notes and connecting with the session’s leaders. They shared their personal stories and talked about negotiating promotions, securing workplace allies, dispelling biases and overcoming imposter syndrome.

“A lot of times our lens is shaded by our company or our job. We learn from the journeys of others and how they respond in different situations,” she said. “I always leave with a fresh perspective.”